People's United funds model farmhouse of historic building

Tim Loh

Published 9:07 pm, Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Photo: Contributed Photo

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PeopleâÄôs United Bank has funded the design and construction of a 5-by-10 foot replica of the Louise Mueller Preserve farmhouse on Round Hill Road. From left to right, are David Jaeger, PeopleâÄôs United private banking group; Roberta Anderson, senior vice president of private banking; Jane D. Hogeman, president of Greenwich Land Trust board of directors; Virginia L. Gwynn, GLT executive director, and Micheal Keady, PeopleâÄôs United Greenwich regional banking market manager. less

PeopleâÄôs United Bank has funded the design and construction of a 5-by-10 foot replica of the Louise Mueller Preserve farmhouse on Round Hill Road. From left to right, are David Jaeger, PeopleâÄôs United ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

People's United funds model farmhouse of historic building

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At the People's United Bank branch in Cos Cob, the latest thing of interest has nothing to do with borrowing rates.

"Our newest addition to the family!" says a sign hanging on the back wall of a model farmhouse.

The farmhouse is a 1-to-10 scaled replica of a 100-year-old building on the historic Louise Mueller Preserve at 370 Round Hill Road, which was donated to the Greenwich Land Trust in 2012.

Recently, in support of the Trust's $1.5 million campaign to restore and maintain the 4-acre site, People's United Bank offered $8,000 for the design and construction of the recreation.

"The work of the Greenwich Land Trust is not only to conserve and care for open space in Greenwich, but to promote the environmental health and well-being of the community and local residents," Roberta Anderson, senior vice president of private banking at People's, said in a statement.

The actual farmhouse is 100 years old and surrounded by sugar maples, orchards and grapevines that grow on the spread of meadows, fields and lawns. There is also a stone cottage, the remains of a greenhouse and historic stone walls.

The model farmhouse is 10 yards from the busy intersection, surrounded by three stone benches and a ring of shrubs. It rests on four sets of cinder blocks, is empty inside, but its exterior is loaded with detail -- with actual glass in each window, which are marked with grills, for instance.

The exhibit will stay in place through the end of May, according to a release by People's. It has previously been on display at Sam Bridge Nursery, the Round Hill Community House and McArdle's Florist and Garden Center. It also appeared in the town's St. Patrick's Day parade, according to the release.

"We are delighted to have had the opportunity to partner with People's United," Ginny Gwynn, executive director of Greenwich Land Trust, said in the release. "The company's prominent role in the community is consistent with the importance of the farmhouse replica in raising awareness and visibility for this important campaign."